yes, a long time.it took 3 viewings in the last coupla daze, to appreciate this.there's too much information in one sitting to take it all in.this is why it failed a the box office.this has more dimension than any of the dollars.it's a drama/melodrama with a western backdrop - rather than a true western.doesn't matter at all.screenplay is multi-layered, thanks to the writing team, who were ahead of their time with this.delli colli, surpasses himself with this. razorsharp detail, almost an etched look.love it.the main leads are excellent and create a very special atmosphere.leone chose well, as it shows.fonda is just great - no wonder his took this role - who wouldn't.blackest villian ever - but one can still see his point of view - he makes it look so easy.cardinale - much underrated, wonderful performance - she is much more than her looks, which are certainly to my taste, anyway.bronson - yes, different to clint, better for this? don't know. his physical presence is undeniable. and yes, he is the angel of death, in a way. he represents an omnipresent, all knowing being here - the manipulater in a deadly play. he is god's right hand. ("revenge shall be mine, sayeth the lord").robards was a surprise, although his character is not as well drawn as the other three.could go on, and on.needless to say, i'll be viewing this masterpiece again and again.

yes, a long time.it took 3 viewings in the last coupla daze, to appreciate this.there's too much information in one sitting to take it all in.this is why it failed a the box office.this has more dimension than any of the dollars.it's a drama/melodrama with a western backdrop - rather than a true western.doesn't matter at all.screenplay is multi-layered, thanks to the writing team, who were ahead of their time with this.delli colli, surpasses himself with this. razorsharp detail, almost an etched look.love it.the main leads are excellent and create a very special atmosphere.leone chose well, as it shows.fonda is just great - no wonder his took this role - who wouldn't.blackest villian ever - but one can still see his point of view - he makes it look so easy.cardinale - much underrated, wonderful performance - she is much more than her looks, which are certainly to my taste, anyway.bronson - yes, different to clint, better for this? don't know. his physical presence is undeniable. and yes, he is the angel of death, in a way. he represents an omnipresent, all knowing being here - the manipulater in a deadly play. he is god's right hand. ("revenge shall be mine, sayeth the lord").robards was a surprise, although his character is not as well drawn as the other three.could go on, and on.needless to say, i'll be viewing this masterpiece again and again.

Glad to see that after such a long time you finally found this masterpiece. It's my favorite film, it's just perfect.

what so good about this film is that it never seems tired or ages, even 100 years from now it will still be watched as it has a timeless feel about it.For me never before or since has a movie been so beautifully made.

what so good about this film is that it never seems tired or ages, even 100 years from now it will still be watched as it has a timeless feel about it.For me never before or since has a movie been so beautifully made.

what so good about this film is that it never seems tired or ages, even 100 years from now it will still be watched as it has a timeless feel about it.

I think that is true because there is very little to date it by. With most AW's you can easily guess the time frames that they were made in just by the dialoge, the treatment of Indians, the title song, the scores.

OUTITW had a simple story with iconic characters.

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"When you feel that rope tighten on your neck you can feel the devil bite your ass"!

It was well received in Japan but we had to bear with the butchered American print for years!

First, there was no tavern scene. And no cave scene. And worst, there was no last moment of Cheyenne. After Harmonica and Cheynne left the McBain ranch, suddenly I saw Cheyenne lying on the back of his horse pulled by Harmonica with no explanation. It was an insult to Leone and his audience!

Yet, this film was acclaimed as a masterpiece in Japan and cherished by Leone fans. I cannot tell how ecstatic I was to see the director's cut finally.

« Last Edit: September 19, 2006, 02:30:46 AM by Sanjuro »

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<br />\"Be bold like an angel, meticulous like a devil.\" (Akira Kurosawa)

Hey, Sanjuro, is it true that when this was originally exhibited in Japan it was simply called "Western"? Seeing copies of the original Japanese poster art, that seems to have been the case.

CJ, I agree with your comments for the most part but there is one way the film CAN in fact be dated: Jill's hair. One of the most egregious examples of 60s hair I can think of (outside Dr. Zhivago, that is).

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That's what you get, Drink, for not appreciating the genius of When You Read This Letter.

It wasn't so easy to persuade Fonda, as we know. Leone had to get to USA, show his movies and Fonda had to call Wallach before the final "yes". And still hadn't got the hang of the movie when he arrived in Rome. Though he was the first to realize what movie he'd been cast for and the character he was given, I think he fully realized that only after the movie was shot or when he first saw it. Or maybe even only some years after. And still describing his part as simply "very funny" makes me have still some doubt about it, though we know his esteem for Leone as confessed to Coburn. I can't but imagine his wonder, should he have had the chance to live for another 25 years, to open up the IMDB and see that he's firstly associated there with this movie.

Fonda always stated OUATITW as his favorite role, so I don't think he'd have a problem being associated with it.

Having seen a lot of Fonda's work I will say that he deserves to be remembered for more than just Frank (see "Grapes of Wrath", "My Darling Clementine", "Mister Roberts", "Twelve Angry Men") - but OUATITW has really gained a big following in the past couple of years, both in the movie buff crowd and in the general public, so it's not hard to see why he's associated with the part. It is interesting, though, that he's most remembered nowadays for the one role that askews his normal screen persona.